Machine for continuous coupling of fabrics

ABSTRACT

Improved machine for continuous adhesively connecting of fabrics, including a heated rotary drum, on the surface of which there is caused to slide an endless web, compressing the fabrics onto said surface of the drum, in which the said drum has a free axis and is supported by three rollers being tangential to the drum and disposed at the corners of a triangle, circumscribed relative to said drum, two of said rollers being provided with a fixed axis, while the third presser roller is journalled to the end of two plates, pivoted in the median part and connected at the other end to the rods of two pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, respectively, internally and externally of the drum being located heat sources.

United States Patent i 1 Cartabbia 1 MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS COUPLING OF FABRICS Giovanni Cartabbia, Via Predore 10, 24067 Sarnico (Bergamo), ltaly 221 Filed: Jan. 18,1974

211 Appl. No.: 434,579

[76] inventor:

{451 June 17, 1975 Primary Examiner-Douglas J. Drummond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT Improved machine for continuous adhesively connecting of fabrics, including a heated rotary drum, on the surface of which there is caused to slide an endless web, compressing the fabrics onto said surface of the drum, in which the said drum has a free axis and is supported by three rollers being tangential to the drum and disposed at the corners of a triangle, circumscribed relative to said drum, two of said rollers being provided with a fixed axis, while the third presser roller is journalled to the end of two plates, pivoted in the median part and connected at the other end to the rods of two pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, respectively, internally and externally of the drum being located heat sources.

9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS COUPLING F FABRICS This invention relates to an improved machine for continuous adhesively connecting fabrics. and more particularly to a machine for continuous adhesively connecting fabrics, in which the pressure exerted on the fabrics to be connected with each other may be regulated and varied depending on the nature of the fabrics to be handled.

As well known, some fabric types need to be connected for their use with a second stiffening and reinforcing fabric.

Said stiffening and reinforcing fabric, generally consisting of a hempen cloth or a similar cloth. is associated with the basic fabric by a layer of adhesive means.

Practically, the coupling is obtained by subjecting both fabrics to a simultaneous heating and compression treatment. In particular. the heating temperature should be such as to provoke a suitable softening of the intermediate adhesive layer, without however bringing about alterations as to structure of the adhesive means itself.

Said temperature should be further maintained within as much low as possible values in order to avoid a possible tuning of the colours of the fabrics.

For these reasons. it is advisable in practice to conveniently extend the treatment time so as to obtain a perfect coupling of the fabrics by adopting relatively low temperatures.

It is also of the utmost importance to subject the superposed fabrics to a uniform pressure in the course of the entire treatment phase. namely independently of the thickness involved in the fabrics.

Such an operating characteristic is difficult to be accomplished with the prior-art coupling machines. in which the fabrics to be associated with each other are generally caused to pass through one or more pairs of presser drums with fixed axes or, with means for changing the spacing between the axes by using complicated and expensive mechanisms of rather difficult application.

Said pairs of drums require further an accurate adjustment of their axes at each change of the fabrics to be handled.

it is. therefore. the object of this invention to provide a machine for continuous coupling of fabrics. not showing the above-outlined inconveniences. being simple and easy to be used and permitting to obtain a uniform pressure throughout the fabrics to be treated. independently of the thickness thereof and likely to easily vary from time to time depending on the nature of the fabrics involved.

These and further objects. which may be inferred from the following detailed description. are attained by using a machine for continuous coupling of fabrics.

Said machine is provided with a drum over which slides an endless web. compressing the fabrics to be associated with each other. having a free axis. and supported by three rollers. disposed at the corners of a triangle being circumscribed relative to said drum. two of said rollers being provided with a fixed axis. while the third roller. called presser roller. presses on the central drum with a constant value pressure.

The pressure. exerted by the presser roller on the drum. is transmitted by this on the other two fixed axis rollers; consequently. the continuous web. winding the drum and dragging the fabrics to be associated with each other, is subjected to a constant pressure along its entire trajectory. put into contact with the central drum. Said presser roller is pushed against the drum by a pair or either hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders by means of suitable leverages. and since said cylinders exert a pressure in one direction. no loss of the fluid controlling them occurs.

The diameter of the central drum and its rotational speed are further selected in the instant machine so that the loading and unloading time of treatment of the fabrics is not dependent on the treatment time of the fabrics themselves.

The heating of the latter is obtained by irradiation and conduction through a plurality of heat sources, disposed in-and outside of the central drum.

The fabric coupling machine of this invention is further provided with a device for the constant centering of the web for the dragging of the fabrics to be associated with each other.

Said device includes a feeler, which may act on a double acting cylinder, which provikes suitable variations of the position of the axis of a roller. modifying the tension of the web.

These and further characteristic features of a functional and constructional nature of the machine for continuous coupling of fabrics according to the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the single FIG- URE. representing in a schematical form the cross section of the machine of this invention.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, the fabric coupling machine according to this invention is essentially constituted of two parallel walls 1, on the surface of which there are provided supports for two rollers with horizontal axis 2 and 3, being suitably spaced from each other.

To each wall 1 there is fastened a pair of pins 4 on which there are pivoted two shaped plates 5. constituting connected levers.

On the lower portion of said plates 5 there is journalled a third roller 6.

The three rollers 2, 3 and 6 are disposed at the corners of a triangle being circumscribed relative to a drum 7, placed between said rollers and showing such a diameter that its external surface is tangent to of the three rollers.

Inside said drum 7. in contact with its inner wall. there is placed a roller 8, rotating about a fixed axis and fitted with end flanges 9, adapted to prevent any longitudinal sliding of the drum.

Still inside the drum 7 there are disposed at least three heat sources 10, distributed symmetrically. which radiate heat onto the inner drum surface.

Externally and longitudinally of the latter there are further placed three other heat sources 10. being preferably disposed between the rollers 2 and 3, 3 and 6. To the upper portion of the pair of plates 5 there is journalled the piston rod of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 11 connected via a hinge 12 to a U-shaped member 13.

The member 13 is in turn journalled at one of its corners to a fixed support 14, and at another corner contiguous thereto it is connected to the same fixed support 14 via a tension spring 15.

With one of the two plates 5 there is integral one blade 16, disposed tangentially relative to the drum 7,

whereas to the other one there is journalled one blade 17, tangentially oriented to the roller 6, disposed at the outlet of the fabric.

The latter blade 17 is maintained in contact with the surface of the roller 6 by means ofa tension spring 18, fastened to the plate 5.

An endless web 19 is maintained in contact with the external surface of the drum 7 via the rollers 6, 3, 2 and 20; the latter is disposed above the roller 2 and out of contact with the drum 7.

The endless web 19 is caused to slide about the back rollers 21 and 22 and is maintained tensioned by the stretching roller 23.

Said stretching roller 23 is mounted at the end of a pair of lever arms 24, pivoted at a median portion to lever arms 25.

The other end of the pair of arms 24 is connected to the lever arms 25 via a tension spring 26.

The arms 25 are in turn journalled to a pair of sup ports 27, stationary and integral with the walls 1 of the instant machinev At the journalled end of one of said arms, 25 there is further integral an arm 28 the free end of which is coupled with the piston rod ofa pneumatic or hydraulic double acting cylinder 29, journalled on turn in a fixed support 30.

Said double acting cylinder 29 is controlled by a feeler member, which continuously controls the position of the endless web 19 on the stretching roller 23, suitably modifying the tension of the latter, in case of cross slidings of the web 19.

The fabrics to be associated with each other are brought through the loading surface 31 between the drum 7 and the endless web 19 at the roller 20.

During their travel along the drum 7, they undergo a heating and compression treatment, so as to be adhesively connected to each other.

The connected fabrics are then detached from the drum 7 by means of the blade 16 and from the roller 6 by means of the blade 17, which conveys them further to the outside. The drum 7 does not rotate about a fixed axis, but is simply sustained by the rollers 2 and 3, rotating about a fixed axis, and by a roller 6 supported by the pair of plates 5.

As mentioned above, said plates are pivoted on the pins 4 and on their ends there is exerted a pressure by the cylinders 11.

in this manner, by exerting through the cylinder 11 a pressure on the roller 6, this pressure is applied to the drum 7 in a constant measure, independently of the actual thickness of the fabrics to be coupled with each other.

Naturally, such pressure is being exerted on said fabrics not only at the contact surface between the roller 6 and the drum 7, but also at the surfaces between the drum 7 and the roller 2 and between the drum 7 and the roller 3. Said rollers 2 and 3 exert in fact against the drum 7 a counter-thrust which has a tendency to op pose to the pressure exerted on said member 7 by the roller 6.

In this manner, on the fabrics to be coupled with each other and dragged to the inside of the machine between the drum 7 and the web 19 are exerted at different moments suitable pressures at the rollers 2, 3 and 6.

Said pressures may be suitably varied by adjusting the pressure of the fluid, admitted in the cylinder 11 and adapting it from time to time to the particular nature of the fabrics to be connected with each other.

Said compressions occur in concomitance with a heating treatment, exerted internally and externally to the drum 7 via the heat sources 10 and 10'.

The heat transmission to the fabrics to be coupled with each other occurs from the external heat sources 10' by radiation through the air and by conduction through the web 19 and from the internal heat sources 10 by radiation through the air and by conduction through the thickness of the metal of the drum 7.

As already stated, in the case of the instant machine, the time between the loading and unloading of the fabrics is not bound to the treatment time, which is conveniently extended through an adequate dimensioning of the drum 7. In this manner, it is possible to submit the fabrics to be connected with each other to heat treatments at not high temperatures and preferably comprised between and C. Said temperatures, being suitably extended in the time are sufficient to be transmitted by conduction to the layer of adhesive means, situated on the inner faces of the fabrics to be connected with each other, thereby provoking the progressive softening of such adhesive means and the adhesion of the fabrics; the latter is promoted by a series of compression stresses, exerted on the fabrics at subsequent moments.

From the foregoing description and from perusal of the accompanying drawing one may easily see the functional character and practical application, characterizing the machine for continuous adhesively connecting of fabrics according to the present invention.

The instant machine for continuous coupling of fabrics has been described by making reference to the accompanying FIGURE, representing a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment form given by way of example.

Several changes and modifications as to shape, dimensions and construction could be introduced in the machine according to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention itself.

1 claim:

1. A machine for continuous adhesively connecting fabrics, comprising a drum having cylindrical outer and inner surfaces; an endless web extending in tensioned condition about a major portion of said outer surface of said drum; means for introducing the fabrics to be connected between said outer surface and said web for withdrawing said fabrics from said surface; means for floatingly mounting said drum for rotation about its axis and comprising three rollers respectively engaging the surface of said web facing away from said outer drum surface and arranged at the corners of an imaginary triangle; a stationary support, two of said rollers are mounted on said support for rotation about fixed axes parallel to the axis of said drum; means for pressing the third roller towards said outer drum surface; and a plurality of heating means respectively arranged in the interior and externally of said drum.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for pressing said third roller towards said outer drum surface comprises two double-armed levers pivotally mounted on said support and rotatably carrying said third roller in the region of one of the ends thereof, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means connected at one end of said levers in the region of the other ends thereof.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means comprise three heating means symmetrically arranged in the interior of the drum.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means comprise three heating means located externally of said drum between said rollers, respectively.

5. A machine as defined in claim 2, and including a member tiltably mounted on said stationary support about a pivot axis parallel to the axes of said rollers, means pivotally connecting the other end of said cylinder and piston means to said member and a tension spring connected to said member spaced from said pivot axis thereof.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for introducing and withdrawing said fabric comprise a first blade carried by one of said levers and arranged substantially tangential to the outer surface of said drum, and a second blade journalled on the other lever and oriented tangential to the roller located at the outlet of the fabrics.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6, and including a spring cooperating with said second blade for maintaining one edge thereof in contact with the peripheral surface of the roller which is located at said outlet.

8. A machine as defined in claim 1, and including an additional roller engaging the inner surface of the drum and being mounted on said support for rotation about a fixed axis, said additional roller having end flanges respectively engaging opposite ends of the drum.

9. A machine as defined in claim 1, and including means for maintaining said web in stretched condition. comprising a stretching roller over which said web extends, a pair of lever arms turnably carrying in the region of one of the ends thereof said stretching roller, a second pair of lever arms respectively pivotally connected at one end to medium portions of said first pair of lever arms, said second pair of lever arms being pivotally connected at the other ends thereof to said support, tension springs connected at opposite ends to the other ends of said first pair of lever arms and to medium portions of said second pair of lever arms, a further arm integrally connected to the other end of one of said second pair of lever arms for pivoting therewith, said further arm having a free end, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means mounted on said support and connected to said free end of said further arm, said cylinder and piston means being controlled by a feeler for controlling the tension of said web. 

1. A machine for continuous adhesively connecting fabrics, comprising a drum having cylindrical outer and inner surfaces; an endless web extending in tensioned condition about a major portion of said outer surface of said drum; means for introducing the fabrics to be connected between said outer surface and said web for withdrawing said fabrics from said surface; means for floatingly mounting said drum for rotation about its axis and comprising three rollers respectively engaging the surface of said web facing away from said outer drum surface and arranged at the corners of an imaginary triangle; a stationary support, two of said rollers are mounted on said support for rotation about fixed axes parallel to the axis of said drum; means for pressing the third roller towards said outer drum surface; and a plurality of heating means respectively arranged in the interior and externally of said drum.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for pressing said third roller towards said outer drum surface comprises two double-armed levers pivotally mounted on said support and rotatably carrying said third roller in the region of one of the ends thereof, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means connected at one end of said levers in the region of the other ends thereof.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means comprise three heating means symmetrically arranged in the interior of the drum.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means comprise three heating means located externally of said drum between said rollers, respectively.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 2, and including a member tiltably mounted on said stationary support about a pivot axis parallel to the axes of said rollers, means pivotally connecting the other end of said cylinder and piston means to said member and a tension spring connected to said member spaced from said pivot axis thereof.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for introducing and withdrawing said fabric comprise a first blade carried by one of said levers and arranged substantially tangential to the outer surface of said drum, and a second blade journalled on the other lever and oriented tangential to the roller located at the outlet of the fabrics.
 7. A machine as defined in claim 6, and including a spring cooperating with said second blade for maintaining one edge thereof in contact with the peripheral surface of the roller which is located at said outlet.
 8. A machine as defined in claim 1, and including an additional roller engaging the inner surface of the drum and being mounted on said support for rotation about a fixed axis, said additional roller having end flanges respectively engaging opposite ends of the drum.
 9. A machine as defined in claim 1, and including means for maintaining said web in stretched condition, comprising a stretching roller over which said web extends, a pair of lever arms turnably carrying in the region of one of the ends thereof said stretching roller, a secOnd pair of lever arms respectively pivotally connected at one end to medium portions of said first pair of lever arms, said second pair of lever arms being pivotally connected at the other ends thereof to said support, tension springs connected at opposite ends to the other ends of said first pair of lever arms and to medium portions of said second pair of lever arms, a further arm integrally connected to the other end of one of said second pair of lever arms for pivoting therewith, said further arm having a free end, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means mounted on said support and connected to said free end of said further arm, said cylinder and piston means being controlled by a feeler for controlling the tension of said web. 